Season 1988/89
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season


The Season in brief

Mark Hughes returned from Barcelona for a bargain £1.6m. Also joining the club was Scottish international goalkeeper Jim Leighton, from Fergie's previous club Aberdeen.

Sparky had a memorable season, finishing as the club's top scorer with sixteen goals and winning the PFA Footballer of the Year award, to add to the Young Player of the Year award he received in 1984/85.

Despite his individual success the side lacked the consistency to challenge for the title and finished a mediocre 11th. They had been as high as third early in 1989 before just three wins in their final twelve League games.

The end of season collapse followed a 1-0 defeat in the F.A. Cup quarter finals. After a three game third round tie with QPR, United had avoided potential upsets by beating Oxford and Bournemouth before being drawn at home against Nott'm Forest in the sixth round.

Forest's Garry Parker had given the visitors a 1-0 half time lead before a Paul McGrath header appeared to have levelled the scores. Steve Hodge cleared the ball but only after it had crossed the line. The referee, however, gave the defender the benefit of doubt and United were out.

All three of United's kits were re-designed for the new season, and were available in both short and long sleeved versions. The home kit was first worn in the pre-season friendly at Old Trafford against Hamburger SV.

To avoid colour clashes the change black shorts were worn with the home shirt, and the home white shorts with the change shirt, on occasion.

As was the case with the previous adidas replica kits, these were easily differentiated from the player shirts as they featured embossed (rather than embroidered) club crests and manufacturers logos.